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Writer's pictureAbhinav Thakurta

How to use the 21/90 Rule to build habits?

Success is not an overnight journey that someone can achieve. It requires your constant efforts over a period that helps you improve and succeed. You don’t need to make many changes at once, but ensure you keep making small changes every day. Even if you make yourself 1% better every day, by the end of a year, you would be 365% better. Astounding isn’t it?


So how do these lifestyle changes happen? How much time does it take? We are going to talk about this today using a powerful tool called the 21/90 rule.


The concept of the 21/90 rule was first used in 1960 by Dr Maxwell Maltz. The surgeon wrote a self-help book called Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life.

So, what is the 21/90 Rule?


The rule states that it takes 21 days to build a habit and 90 days to make it a part of your lifestyle.


Every day, we find something that compels us to improve some of our habits in our lifestyle. When I started meditating seven years back, I used to think, how will this become a natural part of me. But today, it is a part of my daily routine.


Making your life better needs two basic life skills, persistence and patience. All you need to do is stick with your plan for 21 days and work upon it for as long as 90 days to make it a permanent part of you.


So, today let’s talk about five steps you can use to bring important habits into your lifestyle.


1. Setting a goal

Sit back and think about what changes you need to bring most to your life. You may want to change your eating habits or sleeping patterns. Or start doing meditation, exercising or drinking herbal teas. Take some time, write it down in your journal or note it down on your mobile. Don’t be afraid of setting challenging goals. Everyone starts at some point and goes on to become extraordinary. And as Tony Robbins say, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”


2. Making a plan

It involves planning those small baby steps you’re going to take every day. If your goal is 5 miles running, start with half a mile walk and then push yourself every single day. If your goal is to sit and meditate for 10 minutes, start sitting for 2 minutes with tranquillity.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln


3. Keeping yourself inclined and focused

At times we deviate and find some other goal more intriguing or think of doing many changes at once. Simplifying things makes goals achievable and less difficult. Take one habit at a time and focus on it.

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” –Greg Anderson


4. Don’t give up

Persistently working on a habit is tough and doing it consecutively for 21 days can be difficult. If you miss on any day, make a promise to never missing it for two consecutive days. And if you work harder that day, give yourself a treat.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ―Nelson Mandela


5. Repeating with other habits

Once you complete one habit, go on to other goals you wish to do. Achieving your goals gives you confidence and inspiration to become even better.

“Winning doesn’t always mean being first. Winning means you’re doing better than you’ve done before.” ―Bonnie Blair


Here were the five steps you can use to try starting new habits in your life. Comment what you liked about the post and what topics you want to read in the next post. Until then, take care. Bye!!!



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2 Comments


pranati2307
Apr 11, 2021

!!Woww

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gurpreetkhanuja111
Apr 10, 2021

Beautifully written..loved it 🤩

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